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Minnesota Warrant Information

How to Check for Warrants in Minnesota

Minnesota has no single public search that shows every active warrant. Warrant information comes from the courts and county sheriff's offices, and each one publishes it differently.

This guide explains the types of warrants, where to look, what official online tools can and cannot show, and how to confirm what you find through lawful channels.

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Quick answer

The Short Answer

Start with the county where the case was filed. Some sheriff's offices publish an online warrant search or list; others ask you to call. Minnesota Court Records Online (opens an official external site in a new tab) can show a case's warrant information if you have the case number. Always confirm a warrant with the court or the law enforcement agency before acting on it.

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Guide Contents

Section 01 of 15

How to Check for Warrants in Minnesota

Warrants in Minnesota are issued by judges and processed by law enforcement. The sheriff's office in each county maintains warrant data for its court, so the most reliable place to start is the county where the case was filed or the offense allegedly happened.

Several counties publish a public warrant search or list. Others don't publish one at all and ask you to call. Court records add another view: a case in MCRO may show its warrant history, but only if you can find the case.

If you are checking because a court date was missed, our missed court guide explains what the court may do next, including summonses, bench warrants and bond forfeiture.

Section 02 of 15

What Is an Arrest Warrant?

An arrest warrant is a court order directing law enforcement to arrest a person and bring them before a judge. County sheriff's offices describe them as issued by a judge for a suspected crime or for failing to follow a court order — such as missing a hearing or violating probation or pretrial supervision.

The sheriff's office doesn't issue warrants; it processes and maintains warrant data. Under Rule 4.01 (opens an official external site in a new tab), a person arrested on a warrant must be taken before a judge as directed in the warrant. Some warrants list a bail amount; others require the person to see a judge first.

Section 03 of 15

Types of Warrants in Minnesota

Different warrants serve different legal purposes. The type affects what the warrant authorizes and how it can be resolved.

  • Arrest warrant

    Orders a person's arrest — for example, when a criminal complaint is filed by warrant (sometimes called a complaint warrant).

  • Bench warrant

    Issued by a judge, commonly after a missed hearing or failure to follow a court directive. See failure to appear bail bonds.

  • Release-condition warrant

    Issued under Rule 6.03 (opens an official external site in a new tab) for an alleged violation of release conditions, when a summons isn't appropriate.

  • Probation violation warrant

    Issued for someone under supervision who allegedly violated its conditions. See probation violation bail bonds.

  • Search warrant

    Authorizes police to search a place or item for evidence. It is not an order to arrest a person.

  • Civil warrant

    Issued for non-criminal reasons, such as contempt in a civil or family matter.

Section 05 of 15

Using MCRO to Review Court Information

MCRO is the Minnesota Judicial Branch's public search for district court records. It is a court-records tool, not a warrant database. Our Minnesota court records & MCRO guide explains each search tab in detail.

The biggest limit: MCRO generally does not return a pending criminal case when you search by the defendant's name, because no conviction has been entered. To find a pending case, search by case number, citation number or attorney — see how to find a pending criminal case.

Once a case is open, the Judicial Branch's own MCRO tutorial explains that a case can show an active-warrant notice and a warrant section listing active and inactive warrants on that case. MCRO can't schedule a hearing or resolve a warrant.

Section 06 of 15

Understanding Active Warrant Indicators

An active-warrant notice in MCRO means someone on that case has an active warrant. Read it carefully before drawing conclusions:

  • It may concern a different party on the case.
  • A person's warrant may relate to a different case than the one you're viewing.
  • Warrant status can change after the record was last updated.
  • The notice doesn't show whether the warrant has bail or how to resolve it.

Read the warrant section and the case events, then confirm the current status with court administration or the sheriff's office. Never rely on an indicator alone.

Section 07 of 15

County Sheriff Warrant Resources

These are the official warrant resources we verified for the counties GPS serves and the two largest metro counties. Each covers only that county's warrants. Phone numbers are the agencies' own published lines.

Rosters are not warrant searches

A county jail roster shows who is in custody, not who has a warrant. For custody searches, use our guide to finding someone in jail.

Section 08 of 15

What If You Don't Know the County?

Warrants are usually tied to the county where a case was filed. Think about where the person was arrested, cited, charged, or placed on probation — each of those can point to a county.

Look for a case or citation number on old paperwork and search it in MCRO. Court administration can help with procedural questions; our court records guide lists county courts. Anoka County notes that information on any other Minnesota warrant must come from the jurisdiction that issued it.

If the person may already be in custody, start with our guide to finding someone in jail in Minnesota instead.

Section 09 of 15

Why a Warrant May Not Appear Online

Work through these possibilities before assuming there's no warrant.

  • County doesn't publish

    Some sheriff's offices offer no online warrant search or list.

  • Update delays

    Lists are refreshed on a schedule and can lag behind court action.

  • Scope limits

    Tools cover one county's court only, and some cover a limited time period.

  • Other jurisdictions

    A warrant from another county, state or federal court won't appear in a county tool.

  • Recently resolved

    Served, recalled or resolved warrants are removed — sometimes before the record updates.

  • Name differences

    Spelling, middle names and hyphenated names can change search results.

Section 10 of 15

How to Verify Warrant Information

Online results are a starting point. Confirm before making decisions:

  1. Step 1 of 6

    Identify the case

    Note the case or warrant number, the issuing court and the person's full name and date of birth.

  2. Step 2 of 6

    Call the issuing agency

    Contact the sheriff's warrants office or court administration in the county that issued the warrant.

  3. Step 3 of 6

    Expect identity limits

    Some agencies confirm active warrant details only to the person named in the warrant.

  4. Step 4 of 6

    Involve an attorney

    A defense attorney can verify the warrant and explain the options for addressing it.

  5. Step 5 of 6

    Ask about bail

    Ask whether the warrant lists a bail amount or requires an appearance before a judge.

  6. Step 6 of 6

    Use official numbers

    Call only numbers published on the agency's own website, never numbers from an unsolicited call.

Section 11 of 15

What to Do If You Discover an Active Warrant

Take it seriously and handle it through lawful channels. Contact a defense attorney first; they can explain whether the court offers a way to address the warrant, such as a scheduled hearing.

Counties publish their own procedures. Hennepin County District Court's Warrant Helpline can schedule hearings for some eligible warrants, but it notes the warrant stays active until the court hearing. Sherburne County says people with an active warrant can turn themselves in at the jail 24 hours a day.

If a person is arrested on the warrant, our jail release timeline guide explains what usually happens between booking and release.

Section 12 of 15

Warrants, Bail Bonds & Court Appearances

Some warrants list a bail amount that can be posted; others say no bail ("body only") and require an appearance before a judge, who then sets release conditions. Sherburne County, for example, says a warrant with a dollar amount can be resolved by turning in and posting bail, while one without an amount requires booking and a court appearance.

When bail is set, a surety bond may be an option instead of paying the full amount in cash — see how bail bonds work in Minnesota and our bail bond costs guide. A bond secures release; it doesn't end the case or excuse future court dates.

Our warrant bail bonds page explains bonds after an arrest on a warrant. GPS Bail Bonds cannot clear, recall or verify warrants.

Bail Set on a Minnesota Warrant?

Call GPS Bail Bonds 24/7, or send a request below, once bail is set and you know the county and case.

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Section 13 · FAQs

Minnesota Warrant Search FAQs

Answers to common questions about finding and confirming Minnesota warrant information.

No single public search covers every Minnesota warrant. Check the county where the case was filed, use MCRO by case number, or ask a defense attorney.

Section 14 · Official sources

Official Minnesota Warrant & Court Resources

Official court, statute and county sources used in this guide. GPS Bail Bonds is an independent bail bond company and is not affiliated with any court or law enforcement agency.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and court procedures can change; check the official source or ask a Minnesota attorney about a specific case. GPS Bail Bonds is an independent bail bond company and is not a government agency.

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GPS Bail Bonds provides 24/7 assistance to Minnesota families once bail has been set, including after an arrest on a warrant.

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